Machine



(No Model.) 5 smote-Sheet 1.

A. J. TANNER GAN- FILLING MACHINE.

No. 518,973. Patented May 1, 1894.

Witnesses: Inventor ynwz-an.

fli'far-ney (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. J. TANNER. CAN FILLING MACHINE. I

No. 518,973. Patented May 1, 1894.

V w jtriesse sz (No Model.)

' A. J. TA'NNER.

GAN FILLING MACHINE- L 5 sheets sl leet 3.

Patented May 1, 1894.

' Witnesses:

4 t e e h S My t me e h S 5 R E N N A T A 0 M 0 m CAN FILLING MACHINE.

No. 518,973. Patented May 1, 1894.

iiarney (N6 Model.) 5 s eets-sheet 5.

A. J. TANNBR. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

No. 518,973. Patented Ma, 1,1894.

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ST TES PATENT FFICEQ ALLEN J. TANNER, OF FRANKLINVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBRO O. HOLMES, OF SAME PLACE. I f

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 518,973, dated May 1, 1894.

Application filed January. 29, 1894. Serial No. 498,350- -(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN J. TANNER, of Franklinville, in the county of Oattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pea-Fillers; and I do hereby declare that the following description of'my said invention, taken in connection withtheaccompanying sheets of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification,

which will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has general reference to machines for mechanically filling peas into cans; and it consists, essentially, in the novel and I 5 peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings already referred to, which serve to illustrate my said invention morefully, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved pea filler, portions of its frame being the machine drawn on a larger scale to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

The object of this invention is the produc- 3 5 tion of an efficient machine for mechanically filling cans with'peas, the machine being especially designed for use in canning establishments where during the proper season a large number of cans are daily filled with this 40 vegetableproduct, its daily capacity being over twenty thousand of the so-called two pound, or No. 2 cans. To attain this result I construct this machine substantially of a receiver for the peas; a series of filling and 5 gaging cylinders or, tubes, secured to a plate; a striking or jarring mechanism by means of which this plate and its attached tubes are rapped or vibrated so as to jar the same and thereby to cause the discharge of the peas from the said tubes; mechanism for feeding.

the cans and placing them into proper position, and a brining mechanism to supply the cans with the proper amount of brine, the whole being arranged in a suitable frame so as to be self-contained, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings,Figure 1, A is a frame constructed of hard wood and composed of four uprights or posts A, A A and A connected together near their lower ends by two longi- 5o tudinal rails B B, and two cross rails E E, and at their upper ends bya receiver G, consisting of a rectangular box composed of the longitudinal sides G", transverse ends g g and bottom G, said uprights being secured to said receiver in any-suitable and secure manner. v

Above the lower cross rails EE are pro-' vided a cross-board 0, connecting the uprights A and A and a cross-rail D, connecting the uprights A and A Upon this cross-board and cross rail is located a track-board F, projecting from both ends of the frame A and having onone end a supporting leg M, and at the opposite end, (being the rear end of the machine,) two legs a a, connected with the lower longitudinal rails B B in a suitable manner. This track-board F terminates in a table F, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and4.

i In the bottom G of the receiver-G there is a longitudinal recess or depression g,'Fig. 5, of proper Widthand depth and nearly the entire length of the said receiver G, into which recess is placed a tube-plate H. This tubeplate is preferably made from. sheet metal, such as brass, copper or similar metal possessing the necessary degree of ductility and it has two rows ofv circular apertures or holes H, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, within which 0 are secured a like number of cylinders or tubes J, also preferably made of brass or cop- I per. In the present instance I have shown in which will hereinafter be explained. From its lower surface are pending eight, (more or less) screw rods I to connect it with a tubestead ying plate I having a number of circular apertures m, corresponding with those in the tube-plate H and fitting the said tubes a close fit. threaded at their lower ends and provided with lock-nuts t 11, above and below the tubesteadying plate I to enable me to properly adjust and hold the saidtube-steadying plate in position. it

Above the cross-board C and cross rail D there are two other cross rails O 0, connecting the uprights A and A as well as the uprights A and A respectively. These crossrails O C have in their center four adjusting screws 70, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5,which screws are fastened with their lower ends in a gate-plate K, and are freely passed through the said rails, adjusting nuts 70 being placed upon said adjusting screws 70 above and below the rails O C to enable me to raise and lower the gate-plate K. This adjustment enables me to increase and decrease the capacity of the tubes J which do not project through the gate-plate K but stop short of the lower surface thereof so that by lowering the gate-plate K the capacity of the tubes J isincreased,while raising the said gate-plate decreases the capacity in a manner readily understood, there being a series of circular apertures m, in said gate-plate K for the reception of the lower ends of the said tubes J, for this purpose. Below this gate-plate K, and running in grooves therein is located a slide or gate K, having a series of circular apertures b, Fig. 5, registering with the apertures m in the gate-plate K, said slide K being operated by a lever L, Figsl and 3, having its fulcrum in a bracket Z, and engaging with its lower end double eyes I, on the end of said gate K. By pushing this lever L in one direction it will cause the slide K to move in the opposite direction and to bring its apertures 1) into register with those in the gate-plate K and thereby to open the lower ends of the tubes J, while manipulating the lever in the opposite direction causes the slide to close said tubes, the apertures in said slideK occupying a position between those in the gate-plate which are spaced far enough apart for this purpose. On this gate or slide K there are provided end-stops K K to properly limit the movement of the gate,

These screw rods I are properly screw of this shaft P is fitted a pulley Q, provided with a clutch q, so that by moving said clutch g by the lever Q (fulcrumed at qon the endboard g), into contact with. said pulley Q, said shaft P is revolved and through it and the bevel gearing, also the shaft P. Upon this latter shaft are secured two eccentricsR R, which, in turn, are connected with a crosshead S, by their straps and connecting rods 0" r, the lower ends of which engage double eyes 8 s, on said cross-head S. This crosshead S is so arranged that in its downward movement imparted to it by the eccentrics and accessories it will strike upon the studs it"ln the tube plate H and thereby to jar or vibrate the same, spiral springs h, Figs. 3 and 5, located under said tube-plate H giving to said tube-plate the necessary elasticity, while screw-bolts h, in said tube plateand passing through the bottom G of the receiver G, prevent the upward movement of said tube-plate beyond a fixed limit. This cross-head S operates in suitable guides S S, Fig. 5, provided on the inner side of the end-boards g 9.

To the cross-board C are fastened two bearings c c, Fig. 2, within which revolve a shaft T, upon which is placed a pulley T, connecting with the pulley Q on the shaft P by a belt. 15, and a further pulley T loosely revolving upon said shaft T but connected and dis connected therewith by a clutch t, operated by a lever t, Fig. 1, said pulley T being the main driving pulley and connected with a main shaft or other source of power, by belting in any suitable manner. These two pulleys T T are connected together in any suitable manner, or they may be a single pulley of the required width, if so desired.

To the outer end of the shaft Tis fastened a crank d, connected, with a connecting rod d, with a plunger d, of the pump D. This pump has a suction pipe e, leading to a suitable supply tank not shown, which contains the brine, and a discharge pipe 6 terminating in a nozzle 6 located at the rear end of the machine above the table F, as shown in Fig. 1. This pump-mechanism supplies the cans with brine after they have received their proper charge of peas, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To the inner end of the shaftTis fastened another crank U, which connects with a sliding-pusher V, by the connecting rod U. This pusherV moves in guidesr 'v, fastened upon the track-board F and passes through a fixed hopper V, into which the cans J to be filled are passed by a suitable spouting pipe V. These cans, after being pushed out of the hopper by the pusher, move along a single fixed track W to a switch-track W, hinged to the fixed track at w,and operated by a leverchine pass the peas dumped into the receiver.

fulcra at y g respectively, and being jointed at their meeting ends by a bolt y, in such a manner that by operating the lever Y both switch-tracks W X will be moved simultaneously.

The operation of this machine is as follows :Motion is communicated by the pulley.

TT to the shaftT and the pump and pusher as well as to the shaft P and the jarring mechanism. The cans to'be filled are passed through the spoutingpipe V into the hopper V and by the pusher V passed along the fixed track W and switch-track W into. the way j until a sufficient number of cans occupy this Way to correspond with the number of tubes J abovethe same. Now the lever Y is pushed over to move the switchtracks W Y to the opposite way j and the cans moved along this way until it also is supplied with the requisite number of cans. During this portion of the procedure the rapping mechanism is at rest, the clutch q hav-. ing been disengaged from the pulley Q. Now

the pusher is stopped by disengaging the clutch 25 from the pulley T, when two operators standing one on each side of the ma- G into the tubes J until they are filled, when the rapping mechanism is started and the slide K pulled, to cause its series ofapertures b to correspond with the apertures m in the gate plate and the peas to discharge from thetubes into the cans beneath, the discharge being assisted by the jarring of the tube-plate by the jarring mechanism. As soon as the peas are discharged from the tubes, the slide K is moved to close the lower end of the tubes and the pusher started. This will cause the cans in the-way j to move over the switchtrack X upon the fixed track X Where as soon as a can reaches the spot directly underneath the nozzle c it will receive a charge of brine from the pump D through the discharge pipe 6, it being understood that the movementof the cans is an intermittent one and I that the pump and the pusher operate in unison and that the discharge of the pump takes place during the receding portion of the movement of the pusher, when the cans are at rest. This operationis continued unthis wayj also pushed out of the same and filled withbrine and replaced by empty cans in the same manner as heretofore described with reference to the way j. It will now be observed that all the cans under the gate-plate and slide are empty and that by a repetition of the several operations described, the machine is caused to fill the cans and brine them successively until the supply is exhausted The filled cans, as soon as they reach the end of the fixed track X are removed by an'attendant who stakes them into suitable grates for further processing and capping.

I now call attention to the fact that the pump Dhas-a capacity somewhat in excess of a single charge for the can with each stroke of its piston, which surplus will pass to a waste-pipe Z, Fig. 1,.and back to the .brinetank from which the pump takes its suction, and that by making the crank-pin d of the pumpadjustable to 'vary its stroke, I amenabled to gage the'charge of the brine accordingly and to allow for any variation in the size of the cans as made by different manufacturers. It will be further observed that the rapping mechanism which strikes the tube-plate H and its accessories rapid blows to produce the jar necessary to discharge the peas. from the tubes is'hereshown toconsist of the cross-head S operated by the eccentrics R R. and the connections r r. This mechanism, however, may be varied and other equiva lentdevices substituted without changing the nature-of my said invention. So may cylindrical tubes 1 be substituted for the taper tubes shown, aslong as these tubes are made of a sufficient length and diameterto contain a full charge of peas for a single fruit can.

It will be further observed that by the introduction of the gate-plate and the adjusting device for varying the-distance between the manufacturers of fruit cans have a slightly different standard of size for cans of the same denomination.

chinefor filling peas into fruit cans is that the berries shall not be lacerated, broken or squashed in the least but retain their'shape perfectly. This result cannot be obtained by mechanism having a plunger or forcer to discharge the peas from a hopper or cylinder, a

fact which has thus far prevented the em ployment of mechanical fillers for peas.

By the adoption of a rapping device, substantially as described, I have successfully accomplished the taskof proddcing a me chanical filler for peas, because by sufficientl-y jarring the measuringand filling tubes, said.

pe'as'willreadily drop outof the same into the cans placed below, and without the least injury to the berries.

IIO

. ,1 I 5 The most essential requirement of a ma.

In the foregoing description I have mentioned the tube-plate as being provided with the upwardly-projecting studs it upon which the cross-head S strikes. I have arranged these studs in the manner described so that the cross-head S shall not directly touch the tube plate for the reason that if the surface of the cross-head were to come in contact with the plate, peas which may be upon said plate would be mashed, a result which I desire to avoid. As an equivalent for these studs I may mention projections on the lower side of the cross-head, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, though other means may be devices to accomplish the desired result, while at the same time these studs may be dispensed with if desired, and in claiming theidevice I desire it to be understood that I shall not confine myself to the use of said studs. It may here also be remarked that the filling opening in the cans, usually termed hole is supposed to be of nearly the same diameter as the lower end of the tubes J. By making these tubes tapering I attain the advantage of a larger filling mouth for the tubes, though cylindrical tubes as stated maybe substituted without changing the nature of my said invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with a fixed receiver, of a series of gaging tubes a vertically-movable plate, to which said tubes are attached,means for normally maintaining said plate off its support, a gate at the lower end of the said gaging tubes, and mechanism substantially as described, for jarring the plate to which the tubes are attached, as and for the object stated.

2. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with a fixed receiver, of a series of gaging tubes a vertically movable plate, to which said tubes are attached, means for normally maintaining said plate 0E its support, a gateat the lower end of said gaging tubes, mechanism substantially as described for jarring said plate and tubes, and means for moving the cans intermittently, as and for the object specified.

3. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with a fixed receiver, of a series of gaging tubes a vertically moving plate, to which said tubes are attached, means for normally maintaining said plate 0E its support, a gate atthe lower end of said gaging tubes, mechanism substantially as described for jarring said plate and tubes, means for moving the cans intermittently, and a brining mechanism for brining the cans while at rest, as and for the purpose stated.

4. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with a receiver for the peas, of aseries of gaging tubes secured to a plate as described, and a jarring mechanism consisting essentially of a cross-head striking dGI'IlQELlJll the tubes, as and for the object set forth.

6. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with a receiver for said peas and measuring tubes having a gate at their lower end, of mechanism for placing the cans into position underneath the said tubes,

consisting of a reciprocating pusher, a hopper, fixed tracks at the ends of the machine, switch-tracks for leading the cans into ways underneath the tubes, and means, substantially as described. for changing the switchtracks simultaneously, as and for the purpose stated.

7. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with the receiver having the recessed bottom G, of the jarring mechanism, the vibrating measuring device consisting of tubes J y the tube plate H, to which said tubes are attached, the spiral springs h underneath the said tube plate, the gate plate K, the slide K underneath the gate plate, and the adjusting screws for the gate plate, as and for the object set forth.

8. In a machine for filling cans with peas,

IOC

the combination, with a suitable frame, of a stationary receiver, at the upper portion of said frame and having a recessed bottom as described, the tube plate in said recess the springs underneath and means for limiting its upward movement of said plate, the gaging tubes secured to said tube plate, the steadying plate secured to said tube plate by screw rods having adjusting nuts as described, the gate plate having the circular apertures for the reception of the lower ends of the said tubes, a gate having apertures corresponding with those of the gate plate and sliding within grooves in said gate plate, and the adjusting screws on the gate plate, as and for the use and purpose specified.

9. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination, with the receiver G, of a rapping mechanism for the filling tubes, consisting, in combination with the tube-plate having studs, as described, of the cross-head S reciprocating in guides S S", above thetube plate, the connecting rods 0" r, eccentrics R R, shaft P having suitable bearings, the bevel wheel 19 upon said shaft P, the bevel wheel 19', pulley Q and clutch 1 upon said shaft 1?, and means for rotating the pulley Q, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine for filling cans with peas, the combination with the frame, of the trackboard F secured upon cross-rail D and crossboard 0, the fixed tracks WX on the ends of the track-board, the switch-tracks W X hinged to said fixed tracks, the tracks ff f" upon said track-board, the connecting rods a: 00, and the levers Y Y fulorumed at y y" and having their-meeting ends connected, as described, for moving the switch-tracks simultaneously, as and for the purpose indicated.

A. J. TANNER.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL J. STARK, OENTIE S. STARK. 

